Career and Education Opportunities for Interpreters in Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado provides a wide variety of opportunities, both career and educational, for interpreters. About 1,000 people are currently employed as interpreters in Colorado. By 2016, this is expected to grow by 30% to 1,300 people employed. This is better than the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for interpreters are expected to grow by about 22.2%. In general, interpreters translate or interpret written, oral, or sign language text into another language for others.

The income of an interpreter is about $21 per hour or $44,520 per year on average in Colorado. In the U.S. as a whole, their income is about $18 hourly or $38,850 per year on average. Jobs in this field include: linguist, per diem interpreter, and sign language translator.

There are six schools within twenty-five miles of Denver where you can study to be an interpreter, among sixty-four schools of higher education total in the Denver area. Interpreters usually hold an Associate's, or other 2-year degree, so you can expect to spend about two years training to become an interpreter if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Interpreter

Interpreter video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, interpreters translate or interpret written, oral, or sign language text into another language for others.

Interpreters follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of data. They also refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries and computerized terminology banks, as needed to insure translation accuracy. Finally, interpreters identify and resolve conflicts pertaining to the meanings of words or behaviors.

Every day, interpreters are expected to be able to understand what others are saying to them even in a noisy environment. They need to speak clearly. It is also important that they articulate ideas and problems.

It is important for interpreters to check translations of technical terms and terminology to insure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions. They are often called upon to translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content and style as much as possible. They also compile terminology and data to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material. They are sometimes expected to proofread and revise translated materials. Somewhat less frequently, interpreters are also expected to adapt translations to students' cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as needed.

Interpreters sometimes are asked to train and supervise other translators or interpreters. And finally, they sometimes have to translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content and style as much as possible.

Like many other jobs, interpreters must be reliable and have exceptional integrity.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Denver include:

Music Director. Direct and conduct instrumental or vocal performances by musical groups.

Public Relations Specialist. Engage in promoting or creating good will for individuals, groups, or organizations by writing or selecting favorable publicity material and releasing it through various communications media. May prepare and arrange displays, and make speeches.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Interpreter Training

Front Range Community College - Westminster, CO

Front Range Community College, 3645 W 112th Ave, Westminster, CO 80031. Front Range Community College is a large college located in Westminster, Colorado. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 15,480 students. Front Range Community College has an associate's degree program in Sign Language Interpretation and Translation which graduated twenty students in 2008.

University of Colorado Denver - Denver, CO

University of Colorado Denver, , Denver, CO 80217-3364. University of Colorado Denver is a large university located in Denver, Colorado. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 17,510 students and an admission rate of 68%. University of Colorado Denver has 2 areas of study related to Interpreter. They are:

French Language and Literature, bachelor's degree which graduated 4 students in 2008.

Spanish Language and Literature, bachelor's degree and master's degree which graduated seven and two students respectively in 2008.

Metropolitan State College of Denver - Denver, CO

Metropolitan State College of Denver, Speer Blvd and Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80217-3362. Metropolitan State College of Denver is a large college located in Denver, Colorado. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 21,715 students and an admission rate of 78%. Metropolitan State College of Denver has a bachelor's degree program in Foreign Languages and Literatures which graduated forty-seven students in 2008.

Regis University - Denver, CO

Regis University, 3333 Regis Blvd, Denver, CO 80221-1099. Regis University is a large university located in Denver, Colorado. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 11,238 students and an admission rate of 44%. Regis University has 2 areas of study related to Interpreter. They are:

French Language and Literature, bachelor's degree which graduated 1 student in 2008.

University of Denver, 2199 S. University Blvd, Denver, CO 80208. University of Denver is a large university located in Denver, Colorado. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 11,409 students and an admission rate of 64%. University of Denver has 5 areas of study related to Interpreter. They are:

Russian Language and Literature, bachelor's degree.

German Language and Literature, bachelor's degree.

French Language and Literature, bachelor's degree which graduated 1 student in 2008.

Italian Language and Literature, bachelor's degree which graduated 2 students in 2008.

Spanish Language and Literature, bachelor's degree which graduated 7 students in 2008.

University of Colorado at Boulder - Boulder, CO

University of Colorado at Boulder, Regent Drive at Broadway, Boulder, CO 80309-0017. University of Colorado at Boulder is a large university located in Boulder, Colorado. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 32,191 students and an admission rate of 78%. University of Colorado at Boulder has 10 areas of study related to Interpreter. They are:

Linguistics, bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctor's degree which graduated thirty, fifteen, and one students respectively in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

National Judiciary Interpreter and Translator Certification:
Achieving the credential of Nationally Certified Judiciary Interpreter and Translator (NCJIT) shows your commitment to upholding the highest standards in the profession.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado photo by David Shankbone

Denver is located in Denver County, Colorado. It has a population of over 598,707, which has grown by 7.9% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Denver, 102, is near the national average. New single-family homes in Denver are priced at $223,800 on average, which is below the state average. In 2008, eight hundred thirty-seven new homes were constructed in Denver, down from 1,215 the previous year.

The top three industries for women in Denver are health care, educational services, and professional, scientific, and technical services. For men, it is construction, professional, scientific, and technical services, and accommodation and food services. The average travel time to work is about 25 minutes. More than 34.5% of Denver residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 12.4%, is higher than the state average.

The percentage of Denver residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 53.0%, is more than both the national and state average. The most prominent religious groups are the Catholic Church, the American Baptist Churches in the USA and the Episcopal Church.

Denver is home to the J F Kennedy Municipal Golf Course and the North Marston Filtration Plant as well as Cheesman Park and Bear Creek Park. Shopping malls in the area include Alameda Square Shopping Center, Boulevard Shopping Center and Brentwood Plaza Shopping Center. Visitors to Denver can choose from Embassy Suites Hotel Denver Downtown, Intown Suites Aurora and Denver Marriott City Center for temporary stays in the area.